If you are a Domino administrator, you may be facing an R6 upgrade soon. Many admins were hesitant to install this version until several point releases had appeared, as is now the case. Also, the release of R6.5, with its built-in instant messaging features, has pushed many organizations to finally make the leap.
But tackling the upgrade is daunting -- so many things might go wrong and there is so much conflicting information about how to proceed. The IBM Redbook about R6 upgrades is more than 500 pages long, making the topic seem even more frightening. I find this guide to be helpful in general, but confusing in some details. For example, the discussion about how to handle customized public directories (names.nsf) wanders throughout many chapters. In some places, the text makes it clear that these steps are optional, only applicable if you have customized this template. In other places, however, the text implies that you must take these steps, which is false for most organizations.
I have performed many R6 upgrades and have many "mental checklists" for doing the upgrades right. To help my customers, and myself, I created a Notes application that guides an administrator through the R6 upgrade process. I basically turned my "mental checklists" into a real checklist, which I am posting here for all to use.
Click here for the download -> R6 Upgrade Checklist
The checklist items contained in the application are taken from the Redbook cited above and from my personal experience. I ask that you maintain my credits on the Help/About screen, and send me any substantial improvements you make so I can update the public version.
I designed the application to be self-explanatory, but be sure to see the Help/Using screen for information about customizing and extending the checklist. The checklist is currently focused on the server upgrade process, with placeholders for workstation and application upgrade items. I would especially appreciate receiving improvements in these areas. It is easy to add your own items and to delete/modify mine. In fact, you can use the entire application as a template for any similar project.
About the author: Chuck Connell is president of CHC-3 Consulting, which helps organizations with all aspects of Domino and Notes.
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